Come for some good information, some networking, and to hang out with me! Sponsored by Grassroots Business Association.

When: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 @ 7pm

Where:
Richard Hugo House
1634 11th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122

(This is a free event, but donations to pay for the space are greatly appreciated.)

A fresh, comprehensive guide to contemporary craft shows. With “Why vend?” as our starting point, we will take you through all aspects of the process, including finding and assessing potential shows, best practice for applying, display techniques, show time survival and more.

Moxie is an artist with years of experience selling her work in large and small venues along the west coast. With obsessive attention to organizing and a rare talent for interpersonal communication, Moxie is also the President and Director of Vendor Relations for Urban Craft Uprising, Seattle’s largest indie craft show, now in its 5th year.
http://www.madebymoxie.com

Kristen Rask sold her first piece of craft at 5th grade summer camp and she hasn’t stopped since. With her vast experience as both a craft show seller and an organizer, Kristen’s passion for all aspects of the craft world only gets bigger. She is the owner of Schmancy, Director of Public Relations and Marketing of Urban Craft Uprising, and is co-creator of Grassroots Business Association.
http://www.schmancytoys.com

The fourth annual Urban Craft Uprising Holiday show is this weekend, and I’ll be there! From the website:

That’s right folks; this year will knock your socks off! We have some of the BEST indie crafters coming to Seattle to strike your fancy for all your holiday needs. Over 100 vendors under one roof for one stop holiday shopping that will make you feel good about the holidays. Support local and independent designers! Shop outside the box!

Date: Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th
Time: 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Where: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
Admission: Free!

Clicky.

I’ve got some pieces in the upcoming Luv-able + Hug-able show @ Gallery Hanahou. From their website:

Due to popular demand, this holiday season the plushes return to gallery hanahou! Made with love by 30+ artists and crafters from all over the world, these original and affordable soft toys will range from cooky critters to adorable anthropomorphic objects.

December 4 2008 – January 7 2009
Opening party: December 4, 6-9pm

And, if you’re like me and can’t be there to check it out, there’s a preview pre-sale online now! I’m totally amazed at what other artists have created… here’s mine:

More awaits you. Clicky.

I forgot to tell you that I’ll be vending, demo-ing and schmoozing at KidsQuest Children’s Museum on Monday, December 1st. I do Shopfest every year, and it’s always fun… especially because my table is near the Waterways exhibit and I like to splash!

From their website:

WINTER WONDERLAND SHOPFEST
Monday, December 1st
11am-2pm and 4pm-8pm

Kick off your holiday shopping and support KidsQuest! Local vendors will share unique products and The Explore Store will offer a 15% discount (that’s 25% off for members).

From 11am-2pm bring the kids and KidsQuest staff will watch them while you browse and buy. From 4pm-8pm join us for adult only shopping with wine and snacks. 15% of all your purchases go to support the Museum’s educational programs.

Come see me and the other vendors, ‘kay?

One city, two great events and I’ll be at both. Please you come too, ok?

First up, we have the You Bazaar, featuring 30+ select craft vendors selling quality handmade wares and a series of rotating workshops throughout the day with some of your favorite plush designers, including me!

You Bazaar
November 2nd 2008, 10am to 5pm
San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park
Free admission!

This will be a fun family friendly event to kick off the Plush You SF Show:

Plush You! SF
Opening Reception: Friday, November 7
6pm – Midnight
Double Punch Gallery
1821 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA 94133

The show runs through November so if you can’t make the opening, you can still check it out.

Inspiration to combine my love of shiny garbage and broken toys with felting has had some interesting results. This guy is just a sneaky peek at what I’ve been working on.

That’s a discarded pinball lightbulb in his head, and a nut (sans bolt) on his tummy.

One of the challenges and biggest learning opportunities of these mixed-media pieces has been to secure all objects only with the needle and wool. I’m going to have to start calling myself a fundamentalist at this point with the crazy obsession with the “purity” of my work. I’m oddly dedicated to the exclusion of sewing, embroidery, glue, etc, which means keeping the foreign objects securely in the sculptures has been work… but well worth it.

More to come.

Come play with us as Urban Craft Uprising hosts our very first CRAFT magazine release party! Join us Sunday, September 7th, 12 – 3pm ahem, 1 – 4pm, to celebrate.

CRAFT 08 has a focus on weaving, so we’ll be right at home at Stitches – the ‘not just your typical fabric store’ in Capitol Hill. We’ll have free hands-on craft projects including paper looms from the mag and Kristen Rask from Schmancy will be there to teach us how to make button rings. (I’ll be doing demos of my Felted Flower Flair Kit, also featured in the magazine.)

When you add in the snacks, door prizes and the irresistible fashion fabrics, notions, and yarn at Stitches, you have a must-attend event on your hands! We hope you’ll stop in, have some nibbles, and CRAFT with us.

i was going to wait until i had a ton of designs, but i just could not resist sharing. i’m terrible at waiting.

can’t stop making them, either. they are the crafty equivalent of snacking on potato chips!

velocity art and design‘s next lab is tomorrow night. kristen rask (of plushyou! and schmancy), hansi (of hansigurumi), and i will be on a panel to talk about plush, craft, business, etc. i need you there ’cause i’m scared. 6 – 8pm @ velocity.

also, i’m doing another basic needle felted bead class this saturday. the last one was unbelievably fun… we had such a good time that i’ve become buddies with some of the students, as if we had met at summer camp. once again, the class is being hosted by the wonderful folks at beadworld and there are only a few spots left. to register or get more info, give them a call!

i made him and now i loves him so much.